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Athena's Story: A Cleft & Craniofacial Clinic Journey

Patient Story

Sweet 2-year-old Athena was recently the first patient seen by Children's Nebraska's Multispecialty Cleft &  Craniofacial Clinic on its opening day in early January of 2024. Born with multiple complex medical needs, Athena underwent surgical repair for her cleft lip and palate with Children's pediatric plastic & reconstructive surgeon Dr. James Vargo within her first year. Athena will now make an annual visit to the clinic, staffed by more than a dozen specialties to provide efficient care on the same day. Children's collaborative team includes experts from Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), Primary Care, Audiology, Speech & Feeding Therapies, Genetics, Social Work, Clinical Nutrition, Neuropsychology, Dentistry, Orthodontics and more.

On Day 1 of operation, Athena and her mom, Mackenzie, checked off clinic visits with seven specialists. After saying their goodbyes, Athena's care team gathered to discuss her personalized care plan.

"It's a packed day, but it's so nice to handle all our yearly appointments at once," Mackenzie said. "I love knowing that they meet afterwards to discuss each patient together and make a plan for Athena's care, now and into the future. The commitment and expertise of this team is unmatched."

Click here to learn more about Children's expert care for cleft lip and palate patients.

Infant patient in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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